Surface Pro is similar in style and function to the original Surface RT tablet that appeared in October, except that it will be able to run the full suite of Windows applications. It will be powered by an Intel Core i5 processor and be priced at $899 for the starter model with 64 gigabytes of storage and $999 for 128 gigabytes of storage, plus an attachable keyboard costing about $100.

The lowest price Surface Pro will retail for more than the top-of-the-line iPad, which retails for about $829.

“It’s not at a price point that will move the market a lot,” said analyst Rick Sherlund of Nomura Securities.

Surface and the rest of the Windows 8 PC and tablet line will attract more consumer attention later this year after Microsoft’s hardware partners introduce their product lineup, he said.

“Rather than one big catalyst event I think you will see a number of product announcements over the next six to nine months that will move the needle” of interest in the Windows 8 direction, he said.

Microsoft, which reports earnings Thursday, is positioning Surface Pro as a tablet with the power of a laptop and the convenience of a tablet. The device comes with a Surface Pen to make it easier for graphic designers and engineers to manipulate images precisely on the touch screen.

Analysts estimated Microsoft has sold fewer than 1 million of its original Surface RT tablet, which was only available at Microsoft stores in the early stages of its release. Surface RT, starting at $499, is powered by chips similar to those used in mobile phones. The addition of the Surface Pro to the lineup is expected to boost interest among business and professional users.

Earlier this month, analysts at UBS estimated that Microsoft would sell a total of 2.5 million Surface Pro units for all of Microsoft’s fiscal 2013.